The around-the-post shot, or ATP, has become increasingly common in pickleball.

At the pro level, it was once a flashy, crowd-pleasing shot reserved for highlight reels—one that could stop a rally and send the crowd into a frenzy.

Today, an ATP is almost as routine as an Erne.

Callie Smith has witnessed that evolution firsthand.

“I love ATPs. Honestly, I feel like they’ve been part of the game for a while now. But now with the new technology and the grit, you can spin a lot harder and you actually hit a lot more ATPs than you ever used to,” explained Smith. “It’s pretty exciting.”

For his part, Caden Nemoff loves the ATP for the entertainment it brings to the game.

“I think ATPs are great for the sport because they’re so exciting for the viewers,” he said. “People love them, and they’re even more fun when you hit one.”

Yates Johnson believes the ATP is one of the shots that makes pickleball so special.

“I love that ATPs are getting so popular. I think that’s what makes pickleball unique and different than tennis or any other sport,” said Johnson. “You have these trick shots that are happening so much now that they’re almost becoming a normal shot. Jay Devilliers has been on SportsCenter like five times because of them. So, they’re undoubtedly a cool shot. They’re fun to hit yourself and fun to watch as a fan.”  

As the shot continues to grow in popularity, pros have had to sharpen their defenses to counter the ATP and keep the rally alive.

Johnson shared his advice for defending against one. 

“You want to get your paddle as low as possible. The ball is usually staying super low along the court, so you have to get down with your legs and try to put the paddle where you think the ball’s going to go and attack it,” he said. “Hold your ground and let the ball come to you.” 

Smith admitted that defending an ATP is far from as easy as the pros make it look.

“It’s tough to defend. You have to know the angle where they’re coming from and slide over to the sideline, depending on how wide the angle is. If it’s really wide, then it can go anywhere. If it’s just slightly wide, then most of the time they’re aiming for the sideline, so you’ll have to shift your feet over to protect or guard the sideline,” she advised. “Then, the person that’s not off the court hitting the ATP, they’re usually going to come over and try to cover the down the line shot. So if you can hit it cross-court back behind them, then you’ll have a winner on the ATP defense.”

Michael Loyd shared his advice as well.

“The ATP used to end the rally, but now people are getting so good at defending them. It’s just another shot at this point,” he explained. “To return them, it’s about equal parts anticipation and movement. Make sure you see the fact that they’re going to have the opportunity as early as possible, and make sure that instead of you running back straight, you’re running on an angle where you think the ball is going to land. Try to cut it off as quickly as you can.”

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